View full sizeCatie O'Toole / The Post-StandardJoe Solon, of Solvay, is leading the effort for the village and town to look at ways to share services and save taxpayers' money. He spoke at Tuesday's village board meeting.

Solvay, NY -- A group of Solvay and Geddes residents wants the village and town to look at ways to share more services and save taxpayers money.

Solvay resident Joe Solon, who initiated the Solvay-Geddes Neighbors for Responsible Government last year, said he and about 25 concerned citizens are pushing for the town and village to study the issue further. He said state grants are available to look into dissolution and to find ways to share costs.

Solon said he has no plans to circulate a petition to ask voters to disband Solvay, a village of about 6,600 residents founded in 1896.

"I feel until the study is done, it’s really not something I could even support," he said. "Once the study is done, then I think each citizen in Solvay would have to decide on the merits of the study, whether they felt it was something they wanted to do."

But just mentioning the word dissolution has caused a stir amongst some village officials.

View full sizeCatie O'Toole / The Post-StandardSolvay Village Deputy Mayor John McPeak (left) and Mayor Kathy Marinelli at Tuesday night's village board meeting. Both said they will fight to keep the village.

Solvay Village Deputy Mayor and Trustee John McPeak spoke out against the idea of dissolution at Tuesday night’s village board meeting.

"We can't allow this to happen," McPeak told nearly 50 people at the meeting.

He explained Solvay has one of the largest municipal electric utility in the state. About 5,500 customers in Solvay and Lakeland also benefit, paying reduced electric bills.

McPeak wonders what would happen to the village’s municipally-owned electric company if residents tried to get rid of the village.

"It’s a tremendous service," he said. "I'm ready to fight (to keep the village) and I think there are people in this audience who are too."

Solvay resident Lisa Mono said she understands some people may think property taxes are too high, but other municipalities charge more and offer fewer services.

Geddes Town Supervisor Manny Falcone, a lineman for the Solvay Electric Department for about 10 years and an employee of the village for 20 years, was not at the village board meeting Tuesday but said he doesn’t think residents would support doing away with the village.

"Nobody wants to dissolve the village," he said. "It’s crazy. If it comes up to a vote, I’m almost positive it’s going to fail... By abolishing the village, they’d be abolishing the electric department. That’s what the village is all about. You’re going to lose jobs."

The village employs 46 permanent part-timers, 26 temporary summer workers and 65 full-time employees. That’s including 20 people who work in the Solvay Electric Department, Village Clerk/Treasurer Mike Fecco said.

"I’ve lived in this village all my life and I can’t think of a more critical issue that’s come up," McPeak said. "The only thing that compares to it is when Allied Chemical moved out in 1985. This could hurt every resident of this village by this tremendous increase in electric rates."

The village and town have agreed to hold a joint meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 that will be open to the public at the Solvay Public Library.

Sean Maguire, regional representative with state Department of State, said he will discuss opportunities for efficiencies between the town and village. He said he will talk about everything from technical assistance to grants.

"There are plenty of ways to take a look at cooperation between municipalities," Maguire said. "We’re always reaching out to communities and talking to them about how they’re working today, and how they can focus in on improvements for the future."